🌱 Potential Upgrades to Madison Park + CHAMPS Café Celebrates 5 years

Hey, everybody! Sean Peek here with your Thursday edition of the Lakewood Patch newsletter, filled with all the local news you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

Breezy with a strong t-storm. High: 49 Low: 28.

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Here are the top three stories in Lakewood today:

1. As part of the Master Plan, Lakewood is considering upgrades to Madison Park. The city council and members of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission are discussing park improvements — the city is also soliciting input from the community through public meetings and online surveys. The proposed upgrades would include the addition of pickleball courts and improvements to the park's pool. (Subscription: cleveland.com)
2. On Friday (Feb. 17), downtown Kent will host the ninth annual Kent BeatleFest. The event celebrates the classics by John, Paul, George, and Ringo of The Beatles. Twenty venues will showcase performances by more than 20 bands and artists, all at no cost. (CleveScene)
3. CHAMPS Café offers special needs students in Lakewood a rewarding opportunity. CHAMPS Café, celebrating its fifth year at Horace Mann Elementary School, creates a rewarding opportunity for students with special needs. It helps students develop essential skills like collaboration, interaction, and hospitality. Roughly 40 kindergarten through fifth-grade students are involved with CHAMPS Café. (Subscription: cleveland.com)

Today in Lakewood:

• Drop In And Play At Lakewood Family Room At Cove Community Center (9:00 AM)
• Board Of Zoning Appeals Meeting At Lakewood City Hall (6:00 PM)
• First Lady Tea At Father Mosovsky Hall (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Did you get a chance to tune into last night's Clean Water Lakewood Update? City leaders discussed the status of the EPA consent decree and provided updates on the progress of the Integrated Wet Weather Improvement Plan and the Interceptor Tunnel Rehabilitation Project. The meeting was live-streamed and can be rewatched here. (City of Lakewood, Ohio - Municipal Government via Facebook)
• The Mayor issued an update on downtown's development yesterday. His updates included progress on construction projects and plans for further improvements to infrastructure and public spaces. The update and progress on the projects highlighted the city's commitment to creating a vibrant and welcoming community. (City of Lakewood, OH)
• If you're a business owner in Lakewood, you may be interested in next week's marketing event. On Fat Tuesday (Feb. 21), you can join members of the Lakewood and Rocky River Chambers of Commerce at Vosh. Appetizers will be provided. RSVP is requested. (Lakewood Chamber of Commerce)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with another update!

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.